Bills receiver and Olympian Marquise Goodwin to make return to track
Buffalo Bills wide receiver and Olympian Marquise Goodwin is making his return to track and field at the 2015 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend.
Goodwin has not competed in the sport since the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, where he placed 10th in the long jump final.
A USATF official told SI.com that Goodwin was added to the meet by petition by men’s chairman Ed Gorman. The petition was granted due to his personal history in the sport.
Goodwin’s personal best of 8.23 meters was set at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and would have been good enough for gold in London, but he struggled at the Summer Games.
If Goodwin finishes in the top three and meets the IAAF qualification mark of 8.10-meters, he would be able to compete at the World Championships in Beijing held Aug. 22-30. Bills training camp begins July 31 and runs through Aug. 25 in Pittsford, New York.
Goodwin was drafted by the Bills in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. In his rookie season, Goodwin appeared in 10 games and had caught 17 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Goodwin spent a majority of his time as a kick returner, where he added another 351 return yards to his stat line.
• TOLAND: Bills WR Marquise Goodwin's Leap from Track to the NFL
In his second NFL season, Goodwin appeared in 10 games but had just one catch for 42 yards. He was plagued by injuries, and missed time with a concussion, hamstring, rib and ankle issues.
The Bills have a crowded receiving core with Percy Harvin, Sammy Watkins Jr. and Robert Woods considered locks to make the team.
